Work because God is with you

Haggai 2:1-5

4^th September 2020

Haggai's first prophecy, and probably his second, came on the first day of the sixth month of 520 BC (Haggai 1v1). His third prophecy came on the twenty-fourth day of the same month. His fourth prophecy was given four weeks later:

Haggai 2v1
On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai:

This prophecy begins with these words:

Haggai 2v2-5
"Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them, 'Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,' declares the Lord. 'Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,' declares the Lord, 'and work. For I am with you,' declares the Lord Almighty.
'This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.'"

The people had obeyed Haggai's earlier prophecies. They'd gone into the mountains to find the raw materials for the temple. They re-laid the foundation, and they'd began work on the walls. Now God spoke to them again. Again, he spoke to Zerubbabel the governor, to Joshua the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. He spoke to all God's people in the land. They were just a remnant now, a tiny group of perhaps 50,000 people, out of what had, in David and Solomon's time, been a mighty and prosperous nation. But God had not forgotten them or finished with them. He still had a plan for their future. But first, He had a question for them:

Haggai 2v3
'Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?

Solomon's temple had been one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, but Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed it in 586 BC. Some of the older members of the remnant who had returned with Zerubbabel and Joshua would have remembered it, although it had been lost 66 years before. They knew perfectly well that Solomon's temple was a great deal more impressive that the new one. But it's not very encouraging for the younger people when the older generation talk about haw marvellous things were in their day.

This still happens. In many churches, they'll be some older members who say the new pastor is nothing like as good as the old one, the new songs contain less doctrine and don't have proper tunes, and why do we need guitars when the old organ was perfectly satisfactory? It doesn't help.

But sometimes the older members do have a point. Churches were fuller a generation ago. Church leaders were more respected. God's name was more honoured. The church has gone backwards in some respects. But we have to start from where we are. The old temple has gone. The new temple is all we have. So we'd better build it.

Haggai 2v4
But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,' declares the Lord. 'Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,' declares the Lord, 'and work. For I am with you,' declares the Lord Almighty.

God's temple today is the church, and the church is vitally important. It may not be what it was. It certainly isn't all we'd like it to be. But it's important. God deserves a house for Him to dwell on earth. God's people need a community of believers to worship together, to support each other, to pray for each other, and to work together to get the Good News of Jesus to our neighbours, who desperately need to hear it.

God spoke through Haggai to the leaders and to all the people, urging every one of them to work, to build His house. He still speaks through Haggai to us today. Will we listen?

God assures us:

Haggai 2v4b-5
for I am with you,' declares the Lord Almighty.
'This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.'

God has promised to never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). The Holy Spirit dwells in you, and always will. God has covenanted with you that He will be your God and you will be His people. Since God is with us, we have no reason to fear.

What better way can you spend the rest of your life than dedicating it to rebuilding God's house where you live, for the glory of God, for the encouragement of God's people and for the salvation of our neighbours?